Direct-scan cash-management systems and methods

ABSTRACT

The invention provided herein generally relates to devices, systems, and methods for handling cash or quasi-cash items in such a way as to substantially eliminate employee theft, error, or difficulties in reconciling a record of transactions with a total amount of money in a cash drawer. The invention also provides devices, systems, and methods for cash-collateralized electronic banking.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/715,198, filed Aug. 6, 2018, entitled DIRECT-SCAN CASH-MANAGEMENTSYSTEMS AND METHODS; and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/832,205,filed Apr. 10, 2019, entitled DIRECT-SCAN CASH-MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS ANDMETHODS. The entire content of the foregoing is hereby incorporated byreference herein.

BACKGROUND

Certain industries and commercial settings are more cash-intensive thanothers. In fact, some industries are exclusively cash-oriented, ornearly so. This includes, for example, aspects of the cannabis industry,based on the lack of convenient banking systems and conventions due toongoing differences between federal and state law concerning cannabis.In addition, many other businesses and industries involve significantuse of cash, including casinos, convenience stores, fast foodrestaurants, festivals, carnivals, fairs, and the like.

Use of cash is a frequent source of difficulties and providesopportunities for theft or costly mistakes. One major problem is that abusiness owner often has to hire people that he or she does not knowwell and has to place more trust in such employees to handle cash thanmay be merited. Some of the solutions for this security problem havebeen to place cameras directly above the cash-handling space in abusiness and to have very strict regulations regarding balancing cashdrawers. Even in its best form, these approaches require significanteffort in counting and sometimes recounting and adjusting for oraccounting for errors in the differences between the amount of money inthe cash drawer and the total tally for the day. These processesintroduce numerous additional opportunities for mistake and fraud.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Provided herein, in certain embodiments, are devices and solutions forhandling cash or quasi-cash items in such a way as to substantiallyeliminate employee theft, error, or difficulties in reconciling a recordof transactions with a total amount of money in a cash drawer.Embodiments of the invention provide cash drawers that are secure,cannot be opened manually, and have one point of entry. At the point ofentry, or intake portal, embodiments of the invention provide a scannercapable of scanning every item to capture its unique identifier and itsvalue. Optional scanning can also test for whether the currency iscounterfeit.

Advantages of keeping track of unique identifiers include: (1) creatinga record of what exactly is in the system and within each collection ofcash items either in “Dynamic Storage Package” (DSP, or “bundle”) or ina “Static Storage Package” (SSP, or “brick”) recorded in the system, (2)making each brick transferrable and fraud-resistant, (3) enablingbanking-like functionality because the cash is safe collateral and notfungible, (4) preventing counterfeits, because each scanned item isunique and duplicates can be identified. In some embodiments, the systemgives each item a unique identity from scanning the identifier locatedon or within the physical item. Thus, even if the physical cash isstolen, the record of item's identity can be provided to law enforcementand the items can be more easily located and returned.

A complete record of every item of currency entering the system is madeby communicating the scan data for each item into a spreadsheet,database, or like computer system for organizing data (the datamanager). A system inventory within the data manager retains records ofall items, bricks, bundles, and transactions. In addition, accountingmay be done in real time either within the cash-management systemthrough internal functions or through integration with commercialaccounting software. Optionally, change can be made by having anexit/output function as part of the primary repository. The output isonly triggered after an input of an amount of currency that is in excessof the amount of the transaction. In the event that the change requiredis a fraction of a currency unit (the units being, e.g., dollars, andthe fractions being, e.g., cents), additional output functionality canbe provided. In an embodiment, an automatic coin dispenser controlled bythe data manager counts the coins and dispenses correct change. Thetransaction is not complete until money is entered into the cash drawerand any change is given. Real-time accounting for money entering orleaving the cash-management system is accomplished through communicationbetween the intake portal, the output function, and the data manager.

Embodiments of the invention reduces opportunities for human error orfraud. In some embodiments, the cash-management system also is capableof packaging like items of currency into packages containing a setnumber of bills, further facilitating handling of cash. In furtheroptional embodiments the cash-management system can feed directly into asafe or vault or other secured storage area.

In practice, a cash transaction involves, for example, entering a totaltransaction amount into a cash register or like device in thecash-management system of the present invention; or a calculation of atotal transaction amount derived from one or more purchase decisionsentered into an interactive user interface; or the like. A buyerprovides cash in an amount that is equal to or greater than thetransaction amount. In some embodiments, this cash is provided to acashier, who inserts the cash into the point of entry. In otherembodiments, the buyer provides the cash directly to the point of entry.The point of entry scans each item to capture its unique identifier andvalue. A record of total cash in the cash-management system, as well asa record of all item identifiers contained within the cash-managementsystem, is maintained in the data manager and updated in real time. Inthe event that the amount of cash entered into the cash-managementsystem is greater than the transaction amount, change is provided bydispensing currency from the cash-management system through a dispensingslot that scans the currency leaving the cash-management system. Thedata manager reconciles not only the total amount of cash remaining inthe cash-management system, but also the individual identity of itemsentering and leaving the cash-management system, such that the datamanager provides both an accurate total of the amount of money in thecash-management system, and an inventory record of each individual itemof currency. In alternative embodiments, the system does not deal withchange, has only a limited pool of change, or rounds purchases to thenearest dollar (or other unit of currency) and provides the remainder tocharities or other recipients.

The cash-management system can be linked to a permanent record-keepingsystem such as, e.g., a blockchain, to further reduce or eliminate riskof or opportunities for fraud in handling cash in the cash-managementsystem. Linkage of data systems to blockchain systems is known withinthe art and is within the capability of a person practicing theinvention.

Embodiments of the invention are particularly useful in cash-intensivebusinesses and functions such as the cannabis industry. The inventioncan also find great utility and acceptance in any other industryinvolving the handling of cash. The invention simplifies the handlingand tracking of cash by directly creating an inventory of items ofcurrency and a total cash value, and by optionally screening forcounterfeit currency. This eliminates the need for additional levels ofaccounting, processes such as drawer-balancing or currency counting, andthe security required when cash can be diverted from a transaction in anact of theft, fraud, carelessness, or simple human error. The inventioncan be used in any business that uses cash, for example, fast foodrestaurants, convenience stores, casinos, carnivals/fairs, etc.Embodiments of the invention are particularly beneficial in industriesthat are not permitted to participate in a conventional banking system,by permitting an all-cash financial system that is accurate, secure, andcompatible with electronic transactions collateralized by tangible cashreserves.

Embodiments of the invention relate to a cash-management system adaptedfor handling of multiple items of at least one currency type. Thecurrency of each type can have a plurality of predetermined valuedenominations. The currency of each type can further include a uniqueidentifier, where the unique identifier can be unique to each item ofcurrency within a currency type, such that each item of currency of agiven type is distinguishable from every other item of once type. Thesystem can include a user-interface stage. The user-interface stage caninclude an intake portal adapted to receive currency inputs from a user,where the intake portal can include a scanner capable of capturing itemdata from an item of intake currency; where the item data can includethe item's unique identifier and the item's value denomination. Thesystem can further include a processor adapted to receive, process, andtransmit said item data to a system record, where the system record caninclude a system inventory of all currency items present in the system.The system can further include a sorter adapted to sort each item ofinput currency into one of a plurality of primary currency stores, whereeach primary currency store can correspond to the value denomination,such that after handling by the sorter each item of input currency isplaced in a selected primary currency store according to the valuedenomination of said item of input currency.

In some embodiments, the user-interface stage can further include anoutput portal adapted to return output currency to a user. The outputportal can include a scanner capable of capturing item data from an itemof output currency, such that output currency is removed from the systeminventory. The system can include a retriever adapted to retrieve apredetermined number of one or more denominations of currency from theappropriate primary currency stores to deliver the output currencythrough the output portal to the user.

In some embodiments, the intake portal and the output portal are thesame, such that a single portal can be capable of fulfilling both intakeand output functions.

In some embodiments, the items of currency can further include indiciaof currency type, and the scanning, sorting, and record functions of thesystem can be adapted to handle currencies of a plurality of currencytypes.

In some embodiments, the plurality of currency types can correspond toplurality of national issuers of currency, and the primary currencystores can comprise a separate primary currency store for each valuedenomination within each currency type.

In some embodiments, the system can further include a dynamic currencystorage stage in physical communication with the user-interface stage.The physical communication between the stages can include a dynamicpackaging interstage. The dynamic packaging interstage can be adapted toselect a predetermined number of currency items of like valuedenomination from a primary currency store and package the predeterminednumber of items in a dynamic storage package (DSP), each DSP having anassigned dynamic storage package identifier (DSP Identifier) unique tothe DSP, and each DSP having a predetermined total currency value basedupon the predetermined number and the value denomination of the DSP. Thedynamic interstage can be further adapted to deposit each DSP, afterpackaging, into the dynamic currency storage stage. In connection withpackaging and deposit of a DSP, the DSP Identifier can be communicatedto the system record, and the DSP Identifier can correspond to a uniqueDSP sub-inventory of currency items within the system inventory, wherethe DSP sub-inventory is a subset of the system inventory.

In some embodiments, the dynamic packaging interstage can also includeretrieval capability to retrieve a DSP and depackage the DSP and delivercurrency from the depackaged DSP back to a primary currency store, ordeliver the entire DSP to a user via a DSP-output in the user interfacestage.

In some embodiments, upon depackaging, the DSP identifier can be removedfrom the system record and the unique identifiers are no longerassociated with a DSP through a DSP identifier.

In some embodiments, the DSP identifier can be recorded as exiting thesystem and all associated unique identifiers are removed from the systeminventory.

In some embodiments, the system can further include a payout ledger ofDSPs or individual currency items outputted from the user interfacestage.

In some embodiments, the dynamic currency storage stage can furtherinclude a banking deposit function, where multiple DSPs can be withdrawndirectly from a portal in the dynamic currency storage stage inpreparation for a bank deposit or other use of the currency within theDSPs.

In some embodiments, the DSP Identifiers and sub-inventories can becommunicated to the bank and recorded in the system record as havingbeen withdrawn from the system inventory for bank deposit.

In some embodiments, the system can further include a static packaginginterstage. The static packaging interstage can be adapted to receivemultiple DSPs and package them into a secure container as a staticstorage package (SSP) for containing currency.

In some embodiments, the SSP is adapted to be tamperproof, fireproof,waterproof, EMP-proof, location-trackable, and/or the like, and/or anycombination thereof. In some embodiments, the SSP can include a uniquestatic storage package identifier (SSPID). In some embodiments, the SSPcan contain a total amount of currency equaling a predetermined value.

In some embodiments, the SSP can include an unlock code required foropening the SSP. In some embodiments, the unlock code can be executablefrom a remote location. In some embodiments, the unlock code canfunction in an unlocking device adapted to unlock the SSP. In someembodiments, the unlock code can function to unlock the SSP only when itis in physical contact with the unlocking device.

In some embodiments, the system further includes a static storage stagefor secure storage of multiple SSPs. In some embodiments, the staticstorage can be adapted for input and output of SSPs via at least oneportal. In some embodiments, the at least one portal requires one ormore of an access code and a physical key for activation. In someembodiments, the static storage can be adapted to read and report allSSPIDs of SSPs contained therein.

In some embodiments, the system can include a sub-inventory of all itemscontained within the static storage. In some embodiments, the staticpackaging interstage is integral with the dynamic currency storage stageor with the static storage stage.

In some embodiments, the system can further include a centralizedcurrency storage stage (CCSS) adapted to receive SSPs from multipleinstances of the system for secure storage of the SSPs, where eachinstance of the system can be associated with a unique user of thesystem and/or a unique account within the CCSS, where the CCSS can beadapted to read and record the SSPID of each SSP associated with anyinstance of the system and/or with any account within the CCSS.

In some embodiments, the CCSS can maintain a sub-inventory of thecurrency contained in each account. In some embodiments, the CCSS can befurther adapted to permit transactions between or among users of thesystem.

In some embodiments, each transaction can include a change in anownership record associated with at least one SSP and/or at least oneDSP within a given SSP.

In some embodiments, the transactions can be encrypted and remotelyexecutable.

In some embodiments, information in the system is recorded in ablockchain.

Some embodiments of the invention relate to a cash-inventory systememploying any of the features described herein.

Some embodiments of the invention relate to a cash-collateralizedbanking system, including any of the features described herein.

Some embodiments of the invention relate to a method of cash management.The method can include providing a cash-management system including atleast one cash-handling portal comprising scanning capability. Themethod can include scanning all currency as part of a cash transaction,cash deposit, cash withdrawal, or any combination thereof, to recorddata relating to each individual item of currency, where the dataincludes data unique to each individual item. The method can includecreating a cash inventory record treating each individual item ofcurrency as a separate entry. The method can include updating the cashinventory record with each transaction, deposit, withdrawal, or anycombination thereof.

In some embodiments, the method can further include sorting items ofcurrency into like denomination.

In some embodiments, the method can further include packaging items ofcurrency into a dynamic storage package (DSP) having a unique dynamicstorage package identifier (DSPID) and having a sub-inventory ofcurrency bundled into the DSP.

In some embodiments, the DSP can be adapted for temporary storage ofcurrency and optional retrieval of currency from the DSP as required forwithdrawals, transactions or any combination thereof, and concomitantadjustments to the cash inventory record.

In some embodiments, the method can further include packaging items ofcurrency into a static storage package (SSP) having a unique staticstorage package identifier (SSPID) and having a sub-inventory ofcurrency contained within the SSP.

In some embodiments, the SSP can be adapted for secure storage ofcurrency. The SSP can be tamperproof, fireproof, waterproof, EMP-proof,location-trackable, and/or the like, and/or any combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the method can further include storing separatelypackaged, uniquely identified, and separately inventoried currencybelonging to multiple users in a centralized secure facility.

In some embodiments, the method can further include maintaining aninventory of all currency in the facility where the inventory canassociate a user/owner with the inventory record of each item ofcurrency.

In some embodiments, the method can further include coordinatingtransactions between or among users, where the transactions can includeupdates to the inventory record reflecting a change in ownership of thecurrency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the first part of a transaction utilizing a cash-managementsystem embodiment of the present invention. Cash 100 is provided to theintake portal 210 of the user interface stage 200. The cash is passedfrom the intake portal 210 through the scanner 220. The scanner 220records the value of each item of currency, and that data is conveyed tothe record of cash value 420 within the data manager 400. The scanner220 also records the unique identifier of each item and conveys thisinformation to the record of items of currency 410. The scanner alsooptionally provides information to the authenticator 440 which verifieswhether each item is counterfeit or legitimate. The physical cash ispassed from the user interface stage 200 to the primary repository 300.

FIG. 2 shows a transaction which requires the making of change. Thetransaction proceeds as described in FIG. 1. The change calculator 430determines the proper amount of change to be dispensed. The changecalculator 430 communicates to the primary repository 300 the amount tobe dispensed. The primary repository 300 provides to the user interfacestage 200 the proper amount of cash. The scanner 520 scans each item asit exits the cash-management system and conveys the identity of eachleaving item to the record of items of currency 410. The changecalculator 430 provides information on the amount to be dispensed to therecord of cash value 420. The physical cash is then provided to theoutput portal 510 at the user interface stage 200.

FIG. 3 illustrates movement of the cash from the primary repository 300to a local secondary repository 600 for optional eventual bank deposit.The bundle manager 450 in the data manager 400 is programmed to createbundles of like items of currency in predetermined values. The bundlemanager 450 communicates with the record of cash value 420 to determinewhen the bundling threshold is reached. The bundle manager 450 instructsthe primary repository 300 to create the bundle(s). The physical bundlesare then passed from the primary repository 300 to a local secondaryrepository 600. The bundle manager 450 communicates with the record ofitems of currency 410 to collect the identities of each item placed inthe bundle. The bundle manager 450 conveys the identity of items withinthe bundle, a “Dynamic Storage Packet Identifier” (DSPID), and the cashvalue of the bundle to the bundle inventory 460. The bundles are kept inthe local secondary repository 600 until they are optionally moved to abanking institution 700 for deposit, or accessed for transactionssupported by the secondary repository, or moved from the secondaryrepository to Static Secure Storage.

FIG. 4 illustrates movement of the cash from the primary repository 300to a local secondary repository 600 when deposit with a bankinginstitution is not the end goal. The initial bundling process followsthat described in FIG. 3. However, in this embodiment the bundlingprocess is reversible. Bundles may be removed from the local secondaryrepository 600 into the primary repository 300 and are unbundled eitherwithin the secondary repository or within the primary repository or in abundling/unbundling system operating between the primary repository andthe secondary repository. The bundle manager 450 communicates with theprimary repository 300 to identify the bundle being unbundled bycorrelation with the bundle's DSPID. The bundle manager 450 communicateswith the bundle inventory 460 to identify the cash value of the bundleand the identities of the items within that bundle. The bundle manager450 conveys the identity information of the unbundled items to therecord of items of currency 410. The bundle manager 450 conveys the cashvalue of the unbundled items to the record of cash value 420. Thephysical cash is removed from the local secondary repository 600 andpassed to the primary repository 300.

FIG. 5 illustrates a method for long term cash retention within thecash-management system. The brick manager 470 within the data manager400 is programmed to create bricks of predetermined value from bundleswithin the local secondary repository 600. The brick manager 470communicates with the bundle inventory 460 to determine when the brickcreation threshold is reached. The brick manager 470 instructs the localsecondary repository 600 to create a brick 1000 using bundles identifiedby their DSPIDs. The physical bricks 1000 can be moved as desired by theuser. The brick manager 470 conveys the identity of the bundles in thebrick 1000 to the bundle inventory 460 and conveys the identity allitems in the brick to the record of items of currency 410. The brickmanager conveys the total cash value of the brick to the record of cashvalue 420. The brick manager 470 conveys the identity of items withinthe brick, an identifying brick signature (“SPID”), a unique brickaccess code, and the cash value of the brick to the brick inventory 480.

FIG. 6 illustrates a countertop embodiment of the first stage of theinvention. A user interface screen 230 is provided to facilitate humanuse of the invention, such as providing a display of the productsinvolved in the transaction and a transaction price. Cash 100 isinserted into the intake portal 210. The cash is passed to a scanner220, which scans each item of currency for value, unique identifier, andother data. The scanned data is conveyed to the system inventory (notshown). After being scanned, the cash is passed to a secure primaryrepository 300. Transactions are not completed until data and currencyare secured. When change is required, the proper amount of change can beremoved from the primary repository 300 and provided to a scanner 520which scans each item of currency to be dispensed as change for value,unique identifier, and other data. This data is conveyed to the systeminventory and records are updated as appropriate. The cash is thenprovided to the user through an output portal 510.

FIG. 7 illustrates the bundling operations which occur below thecountertop unit. One or more devices (not shown) are provided whichcollect cash in the amount to be bundled from the secure primaryrepository 300. The items within the bundle are recorded, along with thevalue of the bundle. After packaging, each bundle 610 is assigned aunique bundle identifier recorded in the bundle inventory 460. In someembodiments, the bundles 610 may be retrieved and unbundled to accessthe items contained within them to fulfill a wide range of businessneeds.

FIG. 8 illustrates the creation of a “Static Storage Package”, or brick1000. In this embodiment, the brick consists of two rectangular boxeswith five sides, i.e. one side of each box is open. Cash is placedwithin the smaller box. The larger box is then secured over the top ofthe smaller box, resulting in a single box closed on all sides. Thebrick packaging may be comprised of a variety of materials and cancomprise additional locking or security features. Each brick is assigneda “Static Storage Package ID” (SSPID) which identifies it within thesystem. The SSPID is associated with records of each bundle and item ofcurrency contained in the brick. Each brick is assigned an access keythat is required to open the brick and access the cash. Use of theaccess key destroys the validity of the brick within the system.

FIG. 9 illustrates the retention of multiple bricks 1000 as analternative to traditional banking deposit. The physical bricks mayreside in any location desired by the user, and title to the cash can betransferred by transfer of the SSPID and access key to one or morebricks.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As used herein, “cash” refers to physical monetary instruments, embodiedin bills, coins, and/or the like. Cash is inclusive of such physicalmonetary instruments as may be issued by any national or internationalauthority. Cash is also inclusive of quasi-monetary instruments, such ascasino chips or physical instruments backed by digital currency orcryptocurrencies, as may be issued by any entity. Each of saidindividual physical monetary instruments is known as an “item ofcurrency”. Items can be classified based upon type of physicalembodiment, national issuer, and/or the like. Each item carries a valuedenomination, and can further carry identifying indicia, such as serialnumbers, embedded RFID signatures, and/or the like. In combination,these characteristics represent a data profile for each monetaryinstrument. For example, a United States one-dollar bill can have a dataprofile as follows:

Type: United States Bill National Issuer: United States ValueDenomination: 1 United States Dollar Serial Number: E19066540H

The main concept of the system is to treat all pieces of currency asunique items of inventory carrying valuable data. The error and problemof prior cash-handling systems is the treatment of cash as fungible.This creates opportunities for fraud, mistake, and theft. But for eachitem of currency with a unique identity due to having a uniqueidentifier, scanning technology makes it completely unnecessary to treatall items currency as fungible. Treating each item of currency as adiscrete inventory item also significantly reduces the ability tocounterfeit or duplicate known items of currency within the system. Allcurrency in a transaction can be treated as unique items of inventorycarrying valuable unique data. An early step in any transactionaccording to embodiments of the invention is to capture the data fromeach item of currency into a data stream. That data stream can furtheroptionally be rendered secure and hackproof via blockchain or othersecure technology. The system is concerned that each item is a uniqueindividual with a unique identity and therefore each item's location inthe system can also be tracked, whether the item is in a primaryrepository, a bundle within a secondary repository, or a brick; likewisethe location of each bundle and each brick can also be tracked. In someembodiments a brick can be assembled to contain “loose” cash—i.e., cashthat has not previously been packaged into DSPs. In such embodiments theinventory of the brick can be an inventory of each item of currency butdoes not include any DSPs and hence does not include any DSPIDs or otherinformation relating to DSPs such as a DSP sub-inventory.

The invention can be embodied in different forms. For example, theinvention can relate to a traditional cash register with two slots: anintake scanning slot & an output scanning slot, where a cashier canoperate the cash register by interacting with its user interface, suchas by pressing keys. As another example, the invention can be configuredin a way that is similar to an ATM, having a touch screen operated bythe user without requiring a cashier, where the user can interact withtouch screen and can input and retrieve money directly through a singlepoint of interaction capable of scanning items of currency in and out ofthe system, or via an input portal/scanner and an output portal/scanner.The user interface can be configured to achieve additionalfunctionality, such as display of products to be sold, quantities andprices of said products, displaying user or customer accountinformation, allow modification of the transaction or transactions, andmore. The user interface can be configured to accept input and provideinformation verbally, through the use of keys, through use of atouchscreen, and more. In some embodiments, additional user interfacescan be provided for “back of house” settings, which allow review ofinformation in the system record, such as total value, inventory ofitems of currency, activity data, and more without being directly tiedto an intake or output portal.

The system can include two-factor authentication. The system can includebio-authentication. For example, some embodiments can include userverification capabilities in the user interface such as thumbprintand/or retina verification and/or facial recognition and/or voicerecognition, and/or the like.

The cash repositories of the system can be designed to have desiredcharacteristics. These characteristics include, but are not limited to:secure (in that the repository cannot be carried away), tamperproof (inthat the repository cannot be opened without authentication), fireproof(in that the repository is resistant to or impervious to fire),waterproof (in that the repository is resistant to or impervious topenetration by water), blastproof (in that the repository is resistantto or impervious to alteration or breach by explosives or ballistics),and EMP-proof (in that the system is resistant to or impervious to anyeffects of a electromagnetic pulse otherwise capable of damaging orde-activating electronic devices). In some embodiments, cash is storedin an airtight container. In some embodiments, a set amount of bills canbe vacuum sealed for efficiency and safekeeping.

The data manager and records within the system can also be designed tohave desired characteristics, such as EMP-proof (in that the data willnot be destroyed upon exposure to an electromagnetic pulse), offsitebackup (in that the data is stored either on a cloud platform or remoteservers), and blockchain interface (in that the data manager caninteract with blockchain protocols to enhance security).

Four Stage System Embodiment

The following is an embodiment of the system that includes 4 stages. Thesystem can also comprise any 1, 2, 3, or 4 of these stages.

Stage 1—Countertop Cashier-Facing Device Like a Cash Register orCustomer-Facing Device Like an ATM

A intake portal is provided which is capable of accepting cash. The userinserts cash into the intake portal. The cash is passed from said intakeportal to a scanner capable of capturing information from the items ofcurrency. The scanner scans each inserted item of currency for value andunique identifiers. The scanner can also scan the items of currency toverify their authenticity. After scanning, the items of currency pass toa primary repository, such as a drawer. In particular embodiments, aplurality of primary repositories are available to accept cash after ithas passed through the scanner. Within each of the plurality of primaryrepositories is a plurality of currency store areas, and at least onedevice capable of sorting the items of currency based on one or morecharacteristics of that item. For example, the device can be capable ofsorting the items of currency based on value denomination or nationalissuer. The items are sorted for storage within the primary repository,with each of the plurality of stores within the primary repositorycorresponding to a particular characteristic or set of characteristicsof the items. In some embodiments, the items with like valuedenominations are stored together. In other embodiments, items of likenational issuer are stored together. In particular embodiments, theprimary repositories possess desired security features such as physicalindestructability and multi-factor authentication for opening. In someembodiments, the transaction cannot be completed until cash is insertedwhich meets at least the transaction price, reducing opportunities fortheft, fraud, or error.

The information captured by the scanner for each item of currency ispassed to a data processor which creates a record for each item scanned.The record can comprise the item's value denomination, uniqueidentifier, and more. An inventory is kept within the data manager ofthe total cash value and all individual uniquely identified items ofcurrency contained within the system. Records are passed from thescanner through the data processor to the data manager for inclusion inthe system inventory. Additional transaction information (such asproduct sold and consumer identity) can be captured and retained by thedata manager as desired. In some embodiments, the system inventory ismaintained in real time. In some embodiments, the scanner and datamanager further compare the identity of each item against a database ofknown items to verify that the item is authentic, rendering payment withcounterfeit items nearly or entirely impossible.

The device further possesses the ability to dispense cash from withinthe system. Cash can be dispensed in the form of making change at theend of a transaction, where the data manager calculates the amount ofchange to be dispensed. Cash can be dispensed upon request from theuser, for example in an ATM-like embodiment where the user, through theuser interface, enters a desired amount of cash to be dispensed, andsuch amount is transferred to the data manager. Each of the plurality ofprimary repositories is equipped with at least one device capable ofretrieving items of currency as required for dispensing. When dispensingis required, said retrieving device retrieves items of currency in theamount specified by the data manager (“output currency”). The retrieveditems are passed through a scanner capable of capturing item data fromthe items of currency. In some embodiments, this scanner is the samescanner through which items are passed from the intake portal. In someembodiments, this scanner is distinct from the scanner connected to theintake portal. The item data of the output currency is recorded by thescanner, and the records in the data manager are updated to reflect thevalue of cash dispensed and the identities of the items of currencywhich have left the system. The output currency is provided to an outputportal, where it becomes accessible to a person using the system. Insome embodiments, the output portal is a device which also serves as theintake portal. In some embodiments, the output portal is distinct fromthe intake portal.

Stage 2—Dynamic Packaging and Storage of Accumulated Cash

The plurality of primary repositories retain enough cash to fulfillroutine transactional needs dependent on industry and business type.Cash in excess of these needs proceeds to the second stage of thesystem: dynamic storage. Collections of items are sorted and groupedinto dynamic storage packets (“bundles”). A bundle contains apredetermined total cash value and can be made up of any number of itemsof the same or differing value denominations. Bundles can be made up ofitems of currency possessing distinct or similar characteristics intheir type or item data. Bundles can accomplish the physical grouping ofthe items in a variety of ways. For example, in a bundle of bills, thebills can be wrapped with a currency strap. For example, a bundle ofbills can be vacuum sealed in plastic. For example, in a bundle of coinsor coin-like items, the items can be placed in a sleeve which is thenclosed at both ends, similar to a traditional coin roll. For example,items of currency can be placed in sealable container which can then bemoved between stages.

Bundles are formed during a dynamic packaging interstage. This process(“bundling”), can be set to occur at predetermined times, such as shiftchanges or close of business, or at predetermined amounts of total cashor number of items of currency of a given denomination. For example,bundling can be set to occur whenever 50 bills of like denomination arepresent in the primary repository. Alternatively, a bundling event maybe triggered when a predetermined threshold is reached, such that aportion of the existing bills are bundled for dynamic storage and areserve cache of other un-bundled bills remain in the primary repositoryfor further transactions. Within the primary repository, a device ordevices capable of retrieving items of currency is provided. Theretrieving device or devices retrieves items with a total value equal tothe value of the bundle to be created. The retrieved items are providedto a scanner capable of capturing item data from each item. Followingsuch scanning, the retrieved items are then passed to a deviceconfigured to physically group the items into a bundle.

Each bundle is assigned a dynamic storage packet identifier (DSPID) uponcreation. This identifier is comprised of a unique digital signatureassigned by the data manager. A list of each DSPID is maintained in adedicated inventory of DSPIDs, where said inventory is a sub-inventorycontained in the system inventory. The DSPID is recorded with a value insaid sub-inventory. In some embodiments, the value of a bundle isencoded in the DSPID. During bundle creation, a record is made of eachitem of currency, such as value denomination, identifier, nationalissuer, and other item data, that is included in the bundle. Each DSPIDis linked to the record of items within the bundle bearing therespective DSPID. Through this, a user can identify each and every itemof currency in any given bundle through that bundle's DSIPD. The DSPIDis physically attached to the bundle, for example by a barcode or QRcode stamped on the binding of the bundle or an RFID chip included inthe bundle, or the like. The DSPID remains associated with and travelswith the bundle until the cash is unbundled.

Once formed, bundles are transferred to a separate secondary repository.In some embodiments, the secondary repository is located directlyunderneath the cash drawer. In other embodiments, the secondaryrepository is located elsewhere in the business facility, such as in abasement or a vault. In some embodiments, the transfer of bundles isachieved through automated mechanical means. For example, in anembodiment where the secondary repository is located directly underneaththe primary repository, the device which physically groups the items canbe further configured to pass the formed bundle through a slot betweenthe primary and secondary repository. For example, in embodiments wherethe secondary repository is remote from the primary repository, bundlescan be conveyed to it by a network of vacuum tubes, conveyors, and/orthe like. In some embodiments, the transfer of bundles involves humaninput. For example, formed bundles can be located in a distinct storagearea within the primary repository, and upon a human user pressing abutton on the user interface, the formed bundles are dropped from theprimary repository to the secondary repository through a trapdoor-likeopening connecting the two repositories. In some embodiments, a humancan physically move the bundles from the primary repository to thesecondary repository. The secondary repository can be provided withsignificant security features consistent with best practices. Cash isretained in the secondary repository until it can be moved to a bank orutilized for the payment of business expenses, such as rent, cost ofgoods, or payroll.

Stage 2A—Bank Deposit (Terminal Stage for Users Wishing to Deposit in aBank)

When the terminal goal of the system is depositing the items of currencyin a bank, the transfer of bundles from the primary repository to thesecondary repository is, in most embodiments, irreversible. The DSPIDcan optionally be transmitted to the user's bank when the bundle iscreated. By transferring the DSPID, the bank recognizes that the userpossesses an amount equivalent to the bundle(s).

Flow of cash from Stage 1 to Stage 2A is unidirectional. In someembodiments, at the end of a cash cycle, such as the close of business,a shift change, or any other pre-set period, some or all of the cash inthe primary repository can be bundled and transferred to the secondaryrepository even if no other predetermined bundling threshold has beenreached. Bundles created in this way are assigned a DSPID, and thatDSPID is linked to the record of item data for the items contained inthe bundle, just as in regular bundle creation. Bundles created in thisway are additionally recorded as having a distinct value, equal to thevalue of the items of currency contained within the bundle. The DSPID,irregular value, and record of item data are stored in the DSPIDsub-inventory just as in regular bundle creation.

The system is configured to allow removal of bundles from the secondaryrepository, such as when a code is entered or at the end of eachbusiness period such as, for example, a day or a week. The bundles withDSPIDs are physically removed from the secondary repository anddelivered to the user's bank, where verification of amounts and value isgreatly facilitated by correlation of the DSPIDs already in the bank'spossession and/or delivered with the bundles. Because the DSPID isassociated with discrete items of currency, there is no need to removeitems for bank deposit on an item-by-item basis. In some cases, the bankcan unbundle the cash for its own purposes, and the information on thedestroyed bundles can be expunged from the system. In other cases, thebank can retain the cash in the bundled state, incorporate the bundle'sassociated information into its own systems, and/or facilitate furthertransactions using the bundle(s). In some embodiments, the systeminventory creates and retains a record of all bundles and items ofcurrency which have been deposited into a bank.

Some embodiments of the invention provide a cash inventory and trackingsystem, without regard to the mechanical features by which the inventoryis created and/or security provided. In these embodiments, cash isscanned for creation of the inventory, whether in a system as describedherein or in any other system capable of scanning and capturing therelevant data for a cash inventory system. In some embodiments, cashhaving been thus inventoried is bundled and a DPSID is created for thebundle, to faciliate tracking of a group of bills in the system. Thesystem can include data for movement of bundles within the system, suchas movement within a bank, a private vault system, or the like. In someembodiments, bundles and/or loose inventoried bills are packaged intobricks to secure larger value amounts for ease of tracking and transportwithout risk of loss, theft, fraud, or damage by fire, water, or thelike.

Some embodiments of the invention provide a cash-based banking systemwherein transactions are collateralized by cash inventoried according tothe cash inventory and tracking system of the invention. The bankingsystem can further include one or more locations for centralized storageof cash collateral in the form of bricks and/or bundles and/or loose,inventoried, bills. The banking system can be adapted to permitelectronic transactions in which parties trade title to the bricksand/or bundles and/or individual bills by trading electronic informationpermitting control over and access to the bricks and/or bundles and/orindividual bills. The difference between this banking system andconventional banking systems is that the transactions are collateralizedby specific, unique items of cash in inventory rather than by cashequivalents or claims on deliverable but fungible value units. In thesystem, each and every brick, bundle and/or loose bill is a unique itemof property personal to one party in the transaction and title to thosespecific items of property is transferred by transfer of electronicinformation permitting real-time transactions between parties anywherein the world. In this system, a party receiving payment by obtainingtitle to specific bricks, bundles, etc., can then claim physicalpossession and delivery of these items or can maintain a ledger of suchitems of property for other transactions.

Transactions and related data can be handled, tracked, and secured byapproaches known in the art and can be rendered hackproof via use ofblockchain technology, encryption, or the like.

Stage 2B—Passthrough (Non-Terminal Stage for Users Wishing to Keep Cashon Hand)

When cash is to be retained, either because this is desired or becausethe system's user cannot access traditional banking services, thetransfer of bundles from the primary repository to the secondaryrepository is reversible.

Flow of cash from Stage 1 to Stage 2B is bidirectional. Functionally,Stage 2B is the user's local bank or is equivalent to the user'schecking account. When a vendor delivers goods or presents an invoicefor services, and/or when the user must pay one or more employees,and/or when the user must make a tax payment, or the like, it becomesnecessary for the user to retrieve an amount of cash that is greaterthan would be available in Stage 1 for register-level transactions.

The user in need of retrieving cash from the secondary repository caninteract with the user interface and indicate the amount desired to beextracted from the secondary repository. In some embodiments, thesecondary repository is equipped with a device or devices which canidentify one or more bundles, wherein said bundles contain at least asmuch value as the total value to be distributed. Said devices arefurther configured to provide the bundles to a scanner, which scans theDSPID. In further embodiments, said device or devices then provide thebundle or bundles to the user through a bundle output portal. In furtherembodiments, said devices are capable of providing the bundles to one ormore devices which physically separate the items of currency, therebydepackaging the bundle. The items of currency are then provided to theuser through the output portal. In other embodiments, the user isgranted access to the secondary repository and physically removes abundle or bundles which contain at least as much value as the totalvalue to be distributed. The user can scan the DSPID of each bundleremoved.

When a DSPID is scanned during the removal, the data manager can updatethe records of bundles on hand to remove the bundles associated with thescanned DSPID(s) from the bundle sub-inventory. The data manager canalso remove from the system inventory the records of the items ofcurrency contained in each bundle which is scanned out. From thesystem's perspective, the bundle has been destroyed, and all the itemscontained within the bundle are no longer present in the system. Theremoval of the bundles and items can be reflected in the total cashvalue and record of items of currency in the system inventory. In someembodiments, these values are updated in real time upon the scanning outof a bundle. The user can hand over physical cash as required for thetransaction. Cash remaining in the user's possession after thetransaction is completed can be returned to the system through Stage 1.In some embodiments, the system can be configured to allow bundles to bescanned into the system as bundles rather than individual items ofcurrency, where the system inventory and bundle sub-inventory areupdated accordingly. In some embodiments, the system inventory createsand maintains a payout ledger containing an ongoing record of allbundles and items of currency which have been outputted from the system.In some embodiments, the payout ledger can retain additionalinformation, such as the reason for the output or to whom the outputtedcurrency was provided. In some embodiments, this payout ledger caninterface with other systems or other instances of the present inventionto assist in verifying transactions.

Stage 3—Static Packaging and Long-Term Storage

In Stage 3, a plurality of bundles are physically packaged together intoa static storage package for long-term retention of large quantities ofcash. Said static storage packages (“bricks”) can comprise any containeror method of physically retaining the bundles. The bricks can beconfigured to have desired security characteristics, such as beingfireproof, tamperproof, waterproof, EMP-proof, physicallyindestructible, and/or the like. Each brick has a preset value such as,for example, $25 k, $50 k, $100 k, $250 k, $500 k, $1M. In someembodiments, the system can aggregate bricks of smaller value intobricks of larger value. For example, ten bricks, each with a value of$100,000, can be aggregated into a brick with a value of $1 million.

The formation of bricks can be achieved in a variety of ways. Theprincipal steps comprise selecting at least two bundles with a valueequal to the value of the brick to be created, retrieving said two ormore bundles from the secondary repository, scanning the DSPIDs of eachof the two or more bundles, and physically packaging the two or morebundles into the brick. In some embodiments, the secondary repository isprovided with one or more devices configured to carry out the steps ofbrick formation. In some embodiments, a separate device or set ofdevices is provided which is capable of carrying out the steps of brickformation, and the bundles are provided from the secondary repository tothe separate device, where the provision is facilitated by a device,devices, or by human means.

Upon creation, bricks (Static Storage Packages) are assigned a uniqueidentifier, a Static Storage Package Identifier or SSPID. Thisidentifier is comprised of a unique digital signature assigned by thedata manager. A list of each SSPID is maintained in a dedicatedinventory of SSPIDs, where said inventory is a sub-inventory containedin the system inventory. The SSPID is recorded with a value in saidsub-inventory. In some embodiments, the value of a brick is encoded inthe SSPID. During brick creation, a record is made of each bundle thatis included in the brick. This record further contains a record of eachitem of currency, such as value denomination, identifier, nationalissuer, and other item data, that is included in each of the bundles.Each SSPID is linked to the record of bundles and items within the brickbearing the respective SSPID. Through this, a user can identify each andevery bundle and item of currency in any given brick through thatbricks's SSIPD. The SSPID is physically attached to the brick, forexample by a barcode or QR code stamped on the exterior of the brick oran RFID chip included in the brick structure, or the like. The SSPIDremains associated with and travels with the brick until the brick isaccessed. In embodiments where bricks are aggregated, a similar processis followed, where a record is made of every brick, bundle, and itemwhich is contained within the aggregated brick. In some embodiments, theSSPID is encrypted. In some embodiments, the SSPID can include or belinked to records of additional information, such as the physicallocation of the brick. Through the SSPID, an amount of physical cash iseffectively converted to a single identifier, enabling easy transfer.

Bricks are secured against physical opening once formed. Bricks can besecured such that they can only be opened with a unique code, by aphysical key, by an electronic signal transmission, and/or the like (anyof such means a “key”). Without the key, a person cannot access the cashwithin the brick. Therefore, the individual possessing the SSPID and keyassociated with a particular brick possesses effective title of the cashcontained in that brick. In some embodiments, using the key andaccessing the brick creates an event that is saved to the data managerand destroys the integrity of the brick. In some embodiments a brick canonly be opened in a designated facility or using designated hardware. Insuch embodiments, for example, a brick is engaged with the openinghardware and an unlock code is transmitted to the hardware or isphysically entered into the hardware. Upon entry of a correct unlockcode, the hardware reverses or deactivates the locking mechanism makingthe brick impenetrable and the brick is thus opened. In someembodiments, the physical act of opening the brick causes acommunication with the inventory system to record that the brick nolonger exists as such and that the items within the brick are removedfrom the inventory. The SSPID record is updated to reflect that theassociated brick has been accessed and is no longer recognized as abrick within the system. The records of DSPIDs and items of currencythat were contained within the brick are updated to reflect that thebundles and items contained in the brick have left the system. Once thebrick is opened, it becomes a box of cash with no “brick nature” everagain. In this way, a brick is analogous to an egg: it can only beopened once and can never be recreated or returned to its originalstate. Once a brick is opened, cash must be returned to the system asitems of currency, bundles, or smaller bricks, by scanning such items,bundles, or bricks back into the system, which can cause said items,bundles, or bricks to be assigned new identifiers within the systeminventory.

The physical bricks can be stored in any location desired by the user.The location of the bricks can be provided with additional securitymeasures to safeguard the bricks. In some embodiments, the bricks arestored in a container meeting standard shipping dimensions to facilitateeasier transportation of the physical cash. In some embodiments, thebricks can be moved by an armored car integrated with thecash-management system capable of tracking the brick SSPIDs andlocations. In some embodiments, the bricks can be stored at a warehousedesigned with security features to be a safe repository for bricks. Saidwarehouse can be owned or operated by the party owning the brickswithin, or by a third party. Thus, a user can maintain on or morecollections of bricks as a private vault or vaults without incurringbanking fees.

Within and across instances of the cash-management system, bricks arestandardized and secure such that they can function as reliablecollateral for transactions. A brick can be removed from one instance ofthe system by scanning its SSPID out of that instance, and then scannedinto another instance of the system by scanning the SSPID into thatinstance. The two instances communicate from their respectiveinventories the records of bundles, items, and item data, and otherrecords associated with the brick, such that the records indicate thatsaid bundles and items are present in the second instances and notpresent in the first instance. In some embodiments, this transfer ofinformation is recorded and verified by blockchain, encryption, and/orthe like. The standardized nature of the bricks enables the user totransfer bricks as described in Stage 4 to facilitate transactions.

Stage 4—Transactions with Bricks as Collateral

Once an individual has accumulated bricks and stored them in a securelocation, they can then use the bricks as collateral for transactions.This can be accomplished by transmitting the SSPID and brick key toanother party, thereby transferring title to the underlying cash. Inaddition to the transfer of the SSPID, the records of the bundles,items, and item data contained within the brick is transferred to thetransferee's system inventory. The transfer of records of the contentsof each brick allow for certainty of the brick's contents betweenparties. Further, because the brick can be equipped with physical,electronic, and other security features, parties can view bricks assecure collateral for a transaction. Transfers of the SSPID and brickkey do not require the transfer of the physical cash, which becomesnecessary only when the transferee wishes to extract physical cash.Because the SSPID and brick key can both be electronic records, thetransfer is as simple as any other form of electronic fund transfer ortransaction. The transferee can continue to hold title to the brick foruse as collateral in future transactions.

The transfer of the SSPID and key avoids several problems traditionallyassociated with large cash transactions. First, it makes physical movingof the cash unnecessary, because cash need not be moved or removed fromthe bricks until the receiving party wishes to actually use the itemscontained in the brick. This eliminates risks of cash being lost duringthe physical relocation process by theft or error. In essence, thebricks function as a vault, and only the right to access the vault istransferred. Further, because each brick is associated with an inventoryof cash value and item identity, there is no need to count large amountsof physical cash. In some embodiments, in which the system is configuredto verify the authenticity of each item as it enters the system, thetransferee is further assured that the items in the brick are notcounterfeits.

Once the SSPID and brick key are transferred, the transferee is theowner of the brick. The transferee can then use the key as needed toopen the brick and retrieve the physical cash. As noted above, thisdestroys the integrity of the brick in the data manager. Thus, whileredemption of the physical cash is capable of being done at any time,excess physical cash must be returned to the cash management system andoptionally placed into new bundles or bricks. The transferee is thenfree to take the needed cash and recreate bundles or bricks out of theremaining cash. The data manager can be configured to track the locationand identity of all bricks and can track ownership of each brick aswell. In some embodiments, a centralized record of title andtransactions across all instances of the system is maintained andprovides confidence in transfers. Thus, businesses locked out of thetraditional banking system to quickly and easily transfer large amountsof money.

Further Embodiments

In an example involving a store employee and a customer, the storeemployee can advise a customer on a selection. The customer can selectthe product desired, scan the barcode of said product through the userinterface, and the user interface displays the final transaction priceon a screen. The customer then inserts cash into the intake portal, andonce an amount equal to or greater than the transaction price isinserted, the user interface asks if this is really the final sale.

In some embodiments, the system allows for the job of the store employeeto advise a customer on product(s) and/or packaging up the product(s)without handling cash. In some embodiments, the system includesintegrated methods to manage product inventory, track consumer purchasebehavior, correlate inventory and pricing, or other retail functions. Inother embodiments, the system is designed to interface with third-partyretail software capable of carrying out common retail operations. Infurther embodiments, the system is capable of fulfilling reporting andcompliance requirements for the business. For example, the system can becapable of meeting tracking and reporting requirements imposed by thegovernment on the cannabis industry. In some embodiments, the system iscapable of creating and printing RFID tags to be attached to products.In further embodiments, the system is capable of interfacing withcompliance software.

In some embodiments, the system can handle spontaneous cash needs. Forexample, vendors can come in without notice. The business at that pointneeds enough cash to complete the purchase from the vendor on the spot.In some embodiments, the system is capable of removing cash from asecondary local repository, unbundling the cash, and recording the cashvalue and identity of items removed from the system by the transaction.In further embodiments, the system can accept a vendor form enabling itto record and process routine or one-time transactions.

In some embodiments, the system possesses additional sorting functions,such as designating particular items of currency for changemaking,designating a particular set of items, or one or more bundles, for bankdeposit or brick formation, and others. These sorting functions canfurther be enabled by a system containing multiple local or remote cashrepositories.

In some embodiments, the system comprises a standalone countertop unit.In some embodiments, the countertop unit is directly connected to a safebelow it. In further embodiments, cash is bundled and dropped from thecountertop unit into the safe when a certain number of a denomination ofcurrency is reached. For example, when 100 $20 bills are in thecountertop unit, 50 are bundled and dropped into the safe. In otherembodiments, cash is bundled and dropped at predetermined times, such asclose of business or shift changes.

In some embodiments, the bundles or bricks are packaged in any availablematerial, e.g., anything from shrink wrap to concrete. In someembodiments, additional security features are provided for bundles orbricks, such as two factor authentication, encryption, physicalbarriers, electronic barriers, and others.

In some embodiments, the cash-management system and data manager arecapable of carrying out additional software functions, such as: point ofsale programs, inventory management, pricing, government compliance,corporate compliance, RFID product tracking, vendor and source tracking,consumer identity, product sales volume analysis, tax calculation andremittance, real time cash on hand balancing, transaction reporting, andintegration functionality with third-party software.

In some embodiments, the system is designed to possess additionaltechnical support features, such as:

-   -   Limited need for manual backup    -   Supervised vending    -   Multiple drawers with distinct data sets, where drawers can be        swapped on demand    -   Rendering a malfunctioning drawer inaccessible until full        functionality is returned    -   Inaccessible repositories for additional security    -   Consumer and employee/user identification    -   Regulatory compliance features    -   Interoperability with all similar systems world-wide    -   Inter-merchant information sharing

In some embodiments, the system comprises further additional featuresfor a desired industry. In some embodiments, the system is connected toa casino chip dispenser to facilitate the trade of cash for chips. Insome embodiments, the system is employed to create customized brickamounts for banks as an alternative means of electronic fund transfer.In some embodiments, the system is utilized by businesses to purchaseproduct and retain payment in a secure manner. In some embodiments, thesystem is employed in tipping industries (such as fast food, dining, orstrip clubs) to sort cash into individual employee accounts to eliminatethe need to count and split tips. In some embodiments, the system isemployed to accept cash in exchange for a QR code or other digitalidentifier which the user carries in place of a ticket for events.

In some embodiments, the system can incorporate quasi-monetary items,for example casino chips. In some embodiments, the system canincorporate fungible items of currency, wherein each item does not havea unique identifier. In some further embodiments, fungible currency isstored in a separate repository. In some further embodiments,information on fungible items within the system is recorded in the datamanager, for example, a record of the type of fungible item, the valueof each and all fungible items, and the count of each type of and thetotal fungible items within the system. In some embodiments, thefungible and non-fungible items are stored in the same repositories. Anexample of a fungible item of cash is a coin from most countries thatissue coins. Lacking any unique identifiers, coins cannot be treated asunique items of inventory. However, bundles of coins can be labeled,given a DSPID, and subsequently tracked. In some embodiments, the systemcan incorporate cryptocurrency, either in digital or electronic formator through the use of physical items corresponding to set amounts ofcryptocurrency and/or specific cryptocurrency wallets.

EXAMPLES Example 1

This example follows the daily activity in a cannabis dispensary whichutilizes the cash management system of the present invention.

At the beginning of the business day, the system inventory contains thefollowing data:

TABLE 1 ITEMS IN PRIMARY REPOSITORY Item Item Type Value ItemIdentifiers United States Bill $1 E1234567K E1234568K E1234569KE1234570K E1234571K E1234572K E1234574K E1234575K E1234576K UnitedStates Bill $5 E1234577K E1234578K United States Bill $10 E1234579KE1234580K E1234581K United States Bill $20 E1234582K E1234583K E1234584KE1234585K E1234586K United States Bill $50 E1234587K E1234588K UnitedStates Bill $100 E1234589K E1234590K E1234591K E1234592K E1234593KE1234594K E1234595K E1234596K E1234597K

TABLE 2 FUNGIBLE CURRENCY Item Type Item Value Item Count United StatesQuarter $0.25 12 United States Dime $0.10 22 United States Nickel $0.058 United States Penny $0.01 64 Total on Hand $6.24 106

TABLE 3 BUNDLES Bundle Contents Item Item DSPID Value Type Value ItemIdentifiers AA123 $100 United $20 E9876543M E9876542M E9876541M StatesE9876539M E9876538M Bill AB567  $20 United  $1 E4563219K E4563218KE4563217K States E4563216K E4563215K E4563214K Bill E4563213K E4563212KE4563211K E4563210K E4563209K E4563208K E4563207K E4563206K E4563205KE4563204K E4563203K E4563202K E4563201K E4563200K

TABLE 4 BRICKS Brick Contents Bundle Contents SSPID Value DSPID ValueItem Type Item Value Item Identifiers B987Z $500 XY234 $100 UnitedStates Bill $20 C2468135M C2468136M C2468137M C2468138M C2468139M AK470$100 United States Bill $20 C2468140M C2468141M C2468142M C2468143MC2468144M DU093 $100 United States Bill $20 C2468145M C2468146MC2468147M C2468148M C2468149M GJ213 $100 United States Bill $20C2468150M C2468151M C2468152M C2468153M C2468154M TR346 $100 UnitedStates Bill $20 C2468155M C2468156M C2468157M C2468158M C2468159M *Notethis example of a brick having a total value of $500 is provided forconvenience. In most embodiments a brick is intended to aggregate largeamounts of money - amounts that would be worth securing in the physicalstructure of the brick and that may be inconvenient to count.

TABLE 5 TRANSACTION HISTORY Transaction 141 . . . Transaction 142

A customer enters the dispensary. The customer consults with a budtenderwho is employed by the dispensary. The budtender recommends severalproducts, and the customer decides to purchase some of those products.The budtender enters the products and quantities into the userinterface, which comprises a touchscreen displaying a menu of products,sitting on top of a counter. The touchscreen then displays a list of theproducts to be purchased, the price of each, and the total transactionprice. The budtender then proceeds to package the products while thecustomer approaches the touchscreen. The customer see that the totalprice is $96.39. The customer produces a $100 bill and inserts it into aslot located below the touchscreen. The customer's $100 bill is passedfrom the slot through a scanner. The scanner identifies that the item isa United States $100 bill, with a serial number D2345678L. The scannerverifies features of a legitimate $100 bill designed to be difficult tocounterfeit and certifies the bill as being genuine. The system furtherverifies the serial number against a database of known items, toconfirm, for example, that this bill is not known to be located anywhereelse, and/or is not on a list of known stolen bills, and by thesecross-checks the bill entering the system is further assured to belegitimate. The scanned information is passed to the system inventory,which creates a new record for the bill in the ITEMS IN PRIMARYREPOSITORY inventory. The bill is then passed into a primary repositorylocated within the counter. In some embodiments of the cash managementsystem, multiple users of the system share certain data in theirinventories to permit more robust verification of such things asduplicate serial numbers, customers proffering counterfeit bills, andthe like.

The cash management system recognizes that cash has been inserted whichis greater than the transaction price. The touchscreen displays a promptto the customer which reads “Inserted Value: $100. Is this sale final?”and buttons labeled “Yes” and “No”. The customer presses the “Yes”button, verifying the amount inserted and that the sale is to becompleted. The cash management system receives the instruction tocomplete the sale. At that time, the system calculates the amount ofchange due to the customer to be $3.61. Three $1 bills are retrievedfrom the primary repository and provided to a scanner. The scannerverifies and records that each bill is a United States $1 bill. Thescanner also records each bill's serial number. The serial numbers ofthe three bills to be dispensed are E1234567K, E1234568K, and E1234569K.This information is transmitted from the scanner to the systeminventory. The three $1 bills are provided to the customer through thesame slot which the customer had earlier inserted the $100 bill. At thesame time, two quarters, one dime, and one penny are dispensed from thefungible currency storage into a change dish located adjacent to thebill slot below the touchscreen. The customer takes the dispensed billsand coins, receives the product from the budtender, and departs thestore.

As the change is dispensed, the system inventory updates the records ofITEMS IN PRIMARY REPOSITORY and FUNGIBLE CURRENCY in accordance withinformation received from the scanner and data manager. After thecompletion of the transaction, the system inventory contains thefollowing updated data in the ITEMS IN PRIMARY REPOSITORY and FUNGIBLECURRENCY records:

TABLE 6 ITEMS IN PRIMARY REPOSITORY Item Item Type Value ItemIdentifiers United States Bill $1 E1234570K E1234571K E1234572KE1234574K E1234575K E1234576K United States Bill $5 E1234577K E1234578KUnited States Bill $10 E1234579K E1234580K E1234581K United States Bill$20 E1234582K E1234583K E1234584K E1234585K E1234586K United States Bill$50 E1234587K E1234588K United States Bill $100 E1234589K E1234590KE1234591K E1234592K E1234593K E1234594K E1234595K E1234596K E1234597KD2345678L

TABLE 7 FUNGIBLE CURRENCY Item Type Item Value Item Count United StatesQuarter $0.25 10 United States Dime $0.10 21 United States Nickel $0.058 United States Penny $0.01 63 Total on Hand $5.63 102The BUNDLES and BRICKS records remain unchanged, because no bundles orbricks were involved in the transaction.

Following the transaction, the system recognizes that there are ten $100bills in the primary repository. The system has previously beenprogrammed to create a bundle of ten $100 bills when such items arepresent in the primary repository, as they are not needed for customertransactions. The system sends the command to create a bundle. Withinthe primary repository, a device retrieves a $100 bill and passes it toa scanner. The scanner verifies and records that the bill is a US $100bill. The scanner further records the serial number of the bill.Following scanning, the bill is provided to a cash bundling systemintegrated in the counter below the primary repository. This process isrepeated until ten $100 bills have been provided to the cash bundlingsystem. The cash bundling system then bundles the bills and attaches aphysical DSPID to the bundle by stamping a barcode on the paper thatwraps the bills. The bundle is dropped out of the cash bundling systeminto a secondary repository located directly below the countercontaining the primary repository.

Simultaneously with the command to create a bundle, the system inventorycreates a new bundle. This new bundle is assigned the DSPID YZ579. Aseach bill to be included in the bundle is scanned, the serial number ofthe bill is entered into the record of items within the bundle. Theitems are removed from the records of cash in the primary repository.After the bundling process is completed, the system inventory containsthe following data:

TABLE 8 ITEMS IN PRIMARY REPOSITORY Item Item Type Value ItemIdentifiers United States Bill $1 E1234570K E1234571K E1234572KE1234574K E1234575K E1234576K United States Bill $5 E1234577K E1234578KUnited States Bill $10 E1234579K E1234580K E1234581K United States Bill$20 E1234582K E1234583K E1234584K E1234585K E1234586K United States Bill$50 E1234587K E1234588K

TABLE 9 BUNDLES Bundle Contents Item Item DSPID Value Type Value ItemIdentifiers AA123  $100 United  $20 E9876543M E9876542M E9876541M StatesE9876539M E9876538M Bill AB567  $20 United  $1 E4563219K E4563218KE4563217K States E4563216K E4563215K E4563214K Bill E4563213K E4563212KE4563211K E4563210K E4563209K E4563208K E4563207K E4563206K E4563205KE4563204K E4563203K E4563202K E4563201K E4563200K YZ579 $1000 United$100 E1234589K E1234590K E1234591K States E1234592K E1234593K E1234594KBill E1234595K E1234596K E1234597K D2345678LThe FUNGIBLE CURRENCY and BRICKS records remain unchanged, because nofungible currency or bricks were involved in the action.

Sometime following the transaction and bundling, the dispensary manageris reviewing the system inventory records from a computer in themanager's officer. The manager notices that there are only six $1 billsin the primary repository available for making change. The managerdecides this level is insufficient. The manager tells the system tounpackage bundle AB567 and have the bills within made available in theprimary repository. Within the secondary repository, a device locatesbundle AB567 by its DSPID, which consists of a QR code stamped on thepaper which wraps the bills together. Once the device locates thebundle, it is provided back to the cash bundling system. The cashbundling system unbundles AB567 and passes the now-free bills to theprimary repository. At the same time, the system inventory adds therecords of bills contained in AB567 to the ITEMS IN PRIMARY REPOSITORYinventory. The system inventory then removes bundle AB567 from theBUNDLES records.

Following the unbundling, the system inventory contains the followingupdated data:

TABLE 10 ITEMS IN PRIMARY REPOSITORY Item Item Type Value ItemIdentifiers United States Bill $1 E1234570K E1234571K E1234572KE1234574K E1234575K E1234576K E4563219K E4563218K E4563217K E4563216KE4563215K E4563214K E4563213K E4563212K E4563211K E4563210K E4563209KE4563208K E4563207K E4563206K E4563205K E4563204K E4563203K E4563202KE4563201K E4563200K United States Bill $5 E1234577K E1234578K UnitedStates Bill $10 E1234579K E1234580K E1234581K United States Bill $20E1234582K E1234583K E1234584K E1234585K E1234586K United States Bill $50E1234587K E1234588K

TABLE 11 BUNDLES Bundle Contents Item Item DSPID Value Type Value ItemIdentifiers AA123  $100 United  $20 E9876543M E9876542M E9876541M StatesE9876539M E9876538M Bill YZ579 $1000 United $100 E1234589K E1234590KE1234591K States E1234592K E1234593K E1234594K Bill E1234595K E1234596KE1234597K D2345678LThe FUNGIBLE CURRENCY and BRICKS records remain unchanged, because nofungible currency or bricks were involved in the transaction.

Sometime after the unbundling, a vendor arrives at the dispensary. Thevendor meets with the dispensary manager and provides the manager aninvoice for product delivered. The invoice is for $1500. The managerdecides to fulfil the invoice by transferring to the vendor $1000 in theform of bundle YZ579 and $500 in the form of brick B987Z. The managerenters into the system that bundle YZ579 is to be removed from thesystem for a vendor payment. The manager enters a withdrawalauthorization code and confirms the withdrawal. The manager goes to thesecondary repository, which is opened as a result of the authorizationcode. The manager finds bundle YZ579, identified by the DSPID numberprinted on the cash wrapping, and removes it from the secondaryrepository. The manager closes the secondary repository after removingbundle YZ579. The manager hands bundle YZ579 to the vendor. At the sametime, the system inventory removes the records of bundle YZ579 and thebills that were contained in it from the BUNDLES inventory. The systeminventory creates a new record in a TRANSACTION HISTORY inventory forthe vendor payment. The system inventory records that bundle YZ579 andthe bills within have been given to the vendor. In an alternativeembodiment, the manager simply enters a “withdrawal needed” of $1500 andthe system selects the relevant bundles having a total value of $1500.The bundles are delivered through a bundle output port and the serialnumbers of all items in the delivered bundles are removed from theinventory.

After providing bundle YZ579 to the vendor, the manager returns to hiscomputer. The invoice provides a digital address corresponding to thevendor's instance of the cash management system. The manager enters thisaddress in the user interface and indicates that payment is to be madeto the address. The manager inputs that brick B987Z is to be transferredto the vendor. The manager authorizes and confirms this transaction. Thedispensary's system inventory transfers to the vendor's system inventorythe SSPID and digital key corresponding to B987Z, as well as the recordsof bundles and bills contained within B987Z. The dispensary's systeminventory removes the record of B987Z and the bundles and billscontained within from the BRICKS inventory. The vendor's systeminventory adds the record of B987Z and the bundles and bills within toits BRICKS inventory. The dispensary's system inventory updates therecord of the transaction in the TRANSACTION HISTORY inventory toreflect that brick B987Z and the bundles and bills contained within wastransferred as part of the transaction with the vendor. The vendor'ssystem inventory creates a new record in its TRANSACTION HISTORYindicating receipt of the bundle and brick as payment for the invoice.

In accordance with the dispensary's practice, brick B987Z and otherbricks created by dispensary are stored in a warehouse operated by athird party. The third party operates the warehouse specifically as asecure storage location for bricks. The dispensary's system inventorytransmits to the vendor's system inventory the fact that brick B987Z isphysically located in said warehouse. The vendor also uses thisthird-party warehouse, in addition to its own local brick storagelocations. Because the vendor does not immediately require the cashwithin brick B987Z, the vendor can allow it to remain in the warehousefor collateral in a future transaction. Upon confirmation that brickB987Z's information has been transferred to vendor's system inventory,the vendor completes delivery of the product and leaves the dispensary.

Following the vendor transaction, the dispensary's system inventorycontains the following data:

TABLE 12 ITEMS IN PRIMARY REPOSITORY Item Item Type Value ItemIdentifiers United States Bill $1 E1234570K E1234571K E1234572KE1234574K E1234575K E1234576K E4563219K E4563218K E4563217K E4563216KE4563215K E4563214K E4563213K E4563212K E4563211K E4563210K E4563209KE4563208K E4563207K E4563206K E4563205K E4563204K E4563203K E4563202KE4563201K E4563200K United States Bill $5 E1234577K E1234578K UnitedStates Bill $10 E1234579K E1234580K E1234581K United States Bill $20E1234582K E1234583K E1234584K E1234585K E1234586K United States Bill $50E1234587K E1234588K

TABLE 13 FUNGIBLE CURRENCY Item Type Item Value Item Count United StatesQuarter $0.25 10 United States Dime $0.10 21 United States Nickel $0.058 United States Penny $0.01 63 Total on Hand $5.63 102

TABLE 14 BUNDLES Bundle Contents DSPID Value Item Value Item Value ItemIdentifiers AA123 $100 United States Bill $20 E9876543M E9876542ME9876541M E9876539M E9876538M

TABLE 15 BRICKS Brick Contents Bundle Contents SSPID Value Item ItemDSPID Value Type Value Item Identifiers

The BRICKS inventory is empty.

TABLE 16 TRANSACTION HISTORY Transaction 141 ... Transaction 142 ...Transaction 143 Type: Invoice Payment To: Vendor Date: Jul. 25, 2019Items Transferred: Bundle Contents Item Item DSPID Value Type Value ItemIdentifiers YZ579 $1000 United $100 E1234589K E1234590K E1234591K StatesE1234592K E1234593K E1234594K Bill E1234595K E1234596K E1234597KD2345678L Brick Contents Bundle Contents Item Item SSPID Value DSPIDValue Type Value Item Identifiers B987Z $500 XY234 $100 United $20C2468135M C2468136M States C2468137M C2468138M Bill C2468139M AK470 $100United $20 C2468140M C2468141M States C2468142M C2468143M Bill C2468144MDU093 $100 United $20 C2468145M C2468146M States C2468147M C2468148MBill C2468149M GJ213 $100 United $20 C2468150M C2468151M StatesC2468152M C2468153M Bill C2468154M TR346 $100 United $20 C2468155MC2468156M States C2468157M C2468158M Bill C2468159M

Following the transaction, the following records are added to thevendor's system inventory:

TABLE 17 BUNDLES Bundle Contents DSPID Value Item Type Item Value ItemIdentifiers YZ579 $1000 United States Bill $100 E1234589K E1234590KE1234591K E1234592K E1234593K E1234594K E1234595K E1234596K E1234597KD2345678L

TABLE 18 BRICKS Brick Contents Bundle Contents SSPID Value DSPID ValueItem Type Item Value Item Identifiers B987Z $500 XY234 $100 UnitedStates Bill $20 C2468135M C2468136M C2468137M C2468138M C2468139M AK470$100 United States Bill $20 C2468140M C2468141M C2468142M C2468143MC2468144M DU093 $100 United States Bill $20 C2468145M C2468146MC2468147M C2468148M C2468149M GJ213 $100 United States Bill $20C2468150M C2468151M C2468152M C2468153M C2468154M TR346 $100 UnitedStates Bill $20 C2468155M C2468156M C2468157M C2468158M C2468159M

The vendor's system inventory now reflects that it possesses title tothe cash in the bundle and brick, even though vendor only possesses thephysical cash in the bundle. The general principles embodied in thisexample can be repeated, altered, or expanded to carry out transactionsand transfers of funds between a plurality of businesses. Each businesscan install and integrate an instance of the system, which is capable ofcommunicating with other instances belonging to other businesses. In theabove example, the system inventories of the dispensary and vendor canalso be linked to an instance possessed by the third-party warehouseoperator, who retains an additional record of the transaction and thebricks, bundles, and bills involved, thereby increasing validity,transparency, and security. In the example above, any of the parties tothe transaction can record the transaction and identities of the bricks,bundles, and bills involved in a blockchain ledger for security andverification purposes.

Example 2

The following example demonstrates the use of the present invention in acasino setting. Primary Repository A is a chip exchanger located on thecasino floor, which is connected to other chip exchangers within thecasino through a central chip vault. The chips in the casino have RFIDchips embedded within them which identify the chip and the casino towhich it belongs.

At 7:00 pm, the Royale Casino's system inventory contains the followingdata:

TABLE 19 ITEMS IN PRIMARY REPOSITORY A Item Item Type Value ItemIdentifier United States Bill $10 U3217890P U3217891P U3217892P UnitedStates Bill $20 U3217893P U3217894P U3217895P U3217896P U3217897P UnitedStates Bill $50 U3217898P U3217899P United States Bill $100 U3217900PU3217901P U3217902P U3217903P U3217904P Royale Chip $5 RCT334 RCT335RCT336 Royale Chip $10 RCT337 RCT338 Royale Chip $25 RCT339 RCT340RCT341 RCT342 RCT343 RCT344 Royale Chip $50 RCT345 RCT346 Royale Chip$100 RCT347 RCT348 RCT349 Royale Chip $250 RCT350 RCT351 Royale Chip$500 RCT352 RCT353

TABLE 20 BUNDLES Bundle Contents Item Item DSPID Value Type Value ItemIdentifier DD345 $1000 United $100 Y4928475C Y4928476C Y4928477C StatesY4928478C Y4928479C Y4928480C Bill Y4928481C Y4928483C Y4928483CY4928484C DE837 $2500 United $100 Y4928485C Y4928486C Y4928487C StatesY4928488C Y4928489C Y4928490C Bill Y4928491C Y4928492C Y4928493CY4928494C Y4928495C Y4928496C Y4928497C Y4928498C Y4928499C Y4928500CY4928501C Y4928502C Y4928503C Y4928504C Y4928505C Y4928506C Y4928507CY4928508C Y4928509C FE264 $2500 United $100 Y4928510C Y4928511CY4928512C States Y4928513C Y4928514C Y4928515C Bill Y4928516C Y4928517CY4928518C Y4928519C Y4928520C Y4928521C Y4928522C Y4928523C Y4928524CY4928525C Y4928526C Y4928527C Y4928528C Y4928529C Y4928530C Y4928531CY4928532C Y4928533C Y4928534C RG746 $5000 Royale $500 RCX984 RCX985RCX986 Chip RCX987 RCX988 RCX989 RCX990 RCX991 RCX992 RCX993

TABLE 21 BRICKS Brick Contents Bundle Contents SSPID Value DSPID ValueItem Type Item Value Item Identifier B800Z $500 XY234 $100 United StatesBill $20 T2468543R T2468544R T2468545R T2468546R T2468547R AK470 $100United States Bill $20 T2468548R T2468549R T2468550R T2468551R T2468552RDU093 $100 United States Bill $20 T2468553R T2468554R T2468555RT2468556R T2468557R GJ213 $100 United States Bill $20 T2468558RT2468559R T2468560R T2468561R T2468562R TR346 $100 United States Bill$20 T2468563R T2468564R T2468565R T2468566R T2468567R

TABLE 22 TRANSACTION HISTORY Transaction 6892 . . . Transaction 6893 . ..

A casino patron approaches the chip exchanger, looking to cash out theirwinnings. The chip exchanger has a slot located on the exterior capableof accepting casino chips. The customer inserts their chips: two $25Royale chips, three $10 Royale chips, and a $50 chip belonging to thenearby Star casino. The chip exchanger has a small screen which displaysthe value of the chips inserted. Each chip is passed from the slot to anRFID scanner, which scans the value and identifier of the Royale chips(RCL245, RCL246, and RCL247 for the $10 chips, and RCS756 and RCS788 forthe $25 chips). The Royale chips are then deposited in the chipexchanger's chip reserves. The Star chip does not contain an RFID. Whenthe RFID scanner fails to recognize a signature from the Star chip, theStar chip is diverted to a separate optical scanner. The optical scannerrecognizes that the chip is issued by Star. Because Royale does notrecognize or exchange Star chips, the Star chip is provided back to thepatron through the chip slot. The screen displays an error messageindicating to the patron that this chip is not accepted at the RoyaleCasino.

As each chip is scanned, the system inventory is updated to indicatethat the chip is now contained within the primary repository of the chipexchanger. The system adds the total value of the inserted Royale chipsto determine how much value must be dispensed to the patron. Aftercalculating that the patron is owed $80, the system retrieves from theprimary repository one $50 bill, one $20 bill, and one $10 bill. Eachbill is provided to the optical scanner, which verifies the value ofeach bill and records the serial numbers of each bill (in this caseU3217898P for the $50 bill, U3217893P for the $20 bill, and U3217891Pfor the $10 bill). The three bills are dispensed through a separate billslot on the exterior of the chip exchanger. The patron takes the billsand the returned Star chip and leaves. The system inventory is updatedto reflect the removal of the three bills that were dispensed.

Following the patron's cashing out, the system inventory contains thefollowing updated data:

TABLE 23 ITEMS IN PRIMARY REPOSITORY A Item Item Type Value ItemIdentifier United States Bill $10 U3217890P U3217892P United States Bill$20 U3217894P U3217895P U3217896P U3217897P United States Bill $50U3217899P United States Bill $100 U3217900P U3217901P U3217902PU3217903P U3217904P Royale Chip $5 RCT334 RCT335 RCT336 Royale Chip $10RCT337 RCT338 RCL245 RCL246 RCL247 Royale Chip $25 RCT339 RCT340 RCT341RCT342 RCT343 RCT344 RCS756 RCS788 Royale Chip $50 RCT345 RCT346 RoyaleChip $100 RCT347 RCT348 RCT349 Royale Chip $250 RCT350 RCT351 RoyaleChip $500 RCT352 RCT353

TABLE 24 TRANSACTION HISTORY Transaction 6892 . . . Transaction 6893 . .. Transaction 6894 Type: Cashout Date: Aug. 6, 2019 Time: 7:03 pmReceived: Item Type Item Value Item Identifiers Royale Chip $10 RCL245RCL246 RCL247 Royale Chip $25 RCS756 RCS788 Dispensed: United StatesBill $10 U3217891P United States Bill $20 U3217893P United States Bill$50 U3217898P

The BUNDLES and BRICKS records are not changed because no bundles orbricks were involved in the transaction.

The system issues a command to form a $5,000 brick using bundles FE264and DE837. Within the casino's secondary repository, a device locatesboth bundles by scanning the DSPID printed on the side of the moneywrapping. The bundles are retrieved by the device and placed into ahigh-strength composite material box, which is to serve as the brick.The box further contains an embedded circuit board and transmitter. Theexterior of the box contains a 0-9 numeric keypad. The box is capable oflocking securely and is only able to be unlocked by entering the propercode on the keypad. At the same time, the data manager assigns the newbrick the identity C028P, and assigns a key, which is 8675309. The newbrick's SSPID and key are transmitted to the circuit in the brick box.The box is then closed and locked. At this point, it can only be openedby entering 8675309 on the keypad. The system inventory then creates anew brick with identity C028P in the BRICKS inventory, and associateswith the brick record the data on the bundles and items contained withinit. The system inventory then removes DE837 and FE264 from the BUNDLESinventory. The physical brick is moved to a secure location in thecasino's vault.

Following the formation of the new brick, the system inventory containsthe following updated information:

TABLE 25 BUNDLES Bundle Contents Item Item DSPID Value Type Value ItemIdentifier DD345 $1000 United $100 Y4928475C Y4928476C Y4928477C StatesY4928478C Y4928479C Y4928480C Bill Y4928481C Y4928482C Y4928483CY4928484C RG746 $5000 Royale $500 RCX984 RCX985 RCX986 Chip RCX987RCX988 RCX989 RCX990 RCX991 RCX992 RCX993

TABLE 26 BRICKS Brick Contents Bundle Contents SSPID Value DSPID ValueItem Type Item Value Item Identifier B800Z  $500 XY234 $100 UnitedStates Bill $20 T2468543R T2468544R T2468545R T2468546R T2468547R AK470$100 United States Bill $20 T2468548R T2468549R T2468550R T2468551RT2468552R DU093 $100 United States Bill $20 T2468553R T2468554RT2468555R T2468556R T2468557R GJ213 $100 United States Bill $20T2468558R T2468559R T2468560R T2468561R T2468562R TR346 $100 UnitedStates Bill $20 T2468563R T2468564R T2468565R T2468566R T2468567R C028P$5000 DE837 $2500  United States Bill $100  Y4928485C Y4928486CY4928487C Y4928488C Y4928489C Y4928490C Y4928491C Y4928492C Y4928493CY4928494C Y4928495C Y4928496C Y4928497C Y4928498C Y4928499C Y4928500CY4928501C Y4928502C Y4928503C Y4928504C Y4928505C Y4928506C Y4928507CY4928508C Y4928509C FE264 $2500  United States Bill $100  Y4928510CY4928511C Y4928512C Y4928513C Y4928514C Y4928515C Y4928516C Y4928517CY4928518C Y4928519C Y4928520C Y4928521C Y4928522C Y4928523C Y4928524CY4928525C Y4928526C Y4928527C Y4928528C Y4928529C Y4928530C Y4928531CY4928532C Y4928533C Y4928534CThe ITEMS OF CURRENCY IN PRIMARY REPOSITORY A records are not changedbecause those items were not involved in the transaction. TheTRANSACTIONS inventory is not changed because the casino does not recordinternal movements of cash to that database.

Example 3

A convenience store implements the cash management system of the presentinvention. Records and inventory are maintained in a manner similar tothose shown in Examples 1 and 2. Because the store has only limitedspace to retain cash, and for security reasons, the store hasimplemented procedures to deposit unneeded cash with its bank. The firststep of this procedure is bundling cash periodically throughout the day.The store is open 24 hours a day, so it has decided to bundle cash inexcess of a defined amount to always be retained in the register at10:00 am and 8:00 pm. When these bundles are created, their DSPIDs andcontents are transmitted to the store's bank. This transmission isencrypted and verified by blockchain technology. Thus, whenever a bundleis created, both the store and the bank are simultaneously made aware ofthe cash value and items of currency that the store possesses.

The store contracts with an armored car company to pick up the bundlesevery other day. At pickup time, the store manager enters a pickup codeinto the user interface. This permits the manager and armored car driverto retrieve the bundles from the secondary repository, which is a safebuilt into the floor under the register counter. Additionally, the storemanager provides to the armored car driver an inventory printout thatlists all bundles to be deposited, including the DSPIDs of said bundles.The armored car takes the bundles and the inventory printout to thestore's bank.

At the bank, the inventory printout is verified against the list ofbundles previously transmitted to the bank. If the bank already has dataon the bundle, the bundle is scanned into the bank's system, noted to bein the bank's physical possession, and secured within the bank'sphysical vault. If the bank does not have data on the bundle, the banksends a request to the store for data associated with each DSPID it doesnot recognize. Once the store provides information associated with theunknown bundle, the bank treats it as discussed above. Optionally, thebank may transmit confirmation to the store that each bundle has beenreceived, recorded, and physically stored in the bank vault.

Example 4

The Royale Casino implements the cash management system of the presentinvention. Records and inventory are maintained in a manner similar toExamples 1 and 2. The casino retains large amounts of cash, in looseform as well as within bundles and bricks kept in the casino vault. Thecasino also finds that it needs to transfer cash to its bank tofacilitate business needs. To accomplish this in a secure manner, thecasino has decided to create bricks specifically designated for transferto a bank. When a transfer is needed, the casino first identifiesbundles and bricks that are to be sent to the bank for deposit. In thiscase, the casino selects ten bundles, each with value of $2,500, todeposit $25,000 in the bank. The casino also selects five bricks, twowith value $50,000 and three with value $10,000, to deposit $130,000 inthe bank.

The selected bundles are enclosed within a brick package, which is thenassigned a the SSPID and given an access key by the system inventory.The selected bricks are similarly enclosed within a brick package,assigned an SSPID and access key. The system inventory alerts the bankof an incoming transfer and transmits the SSPIDs and access codesthrough an encrypted, blockchain verified communication. The bankacknowledges that the transfer is incoming. A courier for the casinosecurely and discretely physically transfers the two new bricks to thebank.

The SSPIDs of all new bricks are confirmed at the bank to verify thatthey are the correct bricks for the transfer. Once the bricks identityis confirmed, the bank uses the encrypted access/unlock keys to openeach brick. This signals to the bank and casino's system inventory thatthe brick has been destroyed and is no longer valid as a system record.The bank takes the bundles from the first new brick, scans the DPSID foreach bundle into its own system, and physically secures them in itsvault. In some embodiments the data transmitted to the bank include theDSPID of every bundle in every brick. Thus when a brick is destroyed byopening, the data previously associated with the brick's single SSPIDbecomes data associated with DSPIDs of the various bundles that had beencontained in the brick. The bank takes the bricks that were used tocreate the second new brick and scans them into its own system, thenphysically secures them in its vault for its own future use. The couriertakes the two brick packages that previously contained the new bricksback to the casino so that they can be reused to create new transferbricks for a future bank deposit.

The foregoing examples are provided for illustrative purposes and arenot to be construed to represent the sole or entire embodiment of theinvention. Within the data manager and system inventory, further recordscan be created or maintained, and the foregoing examples should not beconstrued to limit the types, sizes, formats, indexes, or other traitsof the inventory, sub-inventory, or records.

The various methods and techniques described above provide a number ofways to carry out the application. Of course, it is to be understoodthat not necessarily all objectives or advantages described are achievedin accordance with any particular embodiment described herein. Thus, forexample, those skilled in the art will recognize that the methods can beperformed in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or groupof advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving otherobjectives or advantages as taught or suggested herein. A variety ofalternatives are mentioned herein. It is to be understood that someembodiments specifically include one, another, or several features,while others specifically exclude one, another, or several features,while still others mitigate a particular feature by including one,another, or several other features.

Furthermore, the skilled artisan will recognize the applicability ofvarious features from different embodiments. Similarly, the variouselements, features and steps discussed above, as well as other knownequivalents for each such element, feature or step, can be employed invarious combinations by one of ordinary skill in this art to performmethods in accordance with the principles described herein. Among thevarious elements, features, and steps some will be specifically includedand others specifically excluded in diverse embodiments.

Although the application has been disclosed in the context of certainembodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in theart that the embodiments of the application extend beyond thespecifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodimentsand/or uses and modifications and equivalents thereof.

In some embodiments, any numbers expressing quantities of ingredients,properties such as molecular weight, reaction conditions, and so forth,used to describe and claim certain embodiments of the disclosure are tobe understood as being modified in some instances by the term “about.”Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters set forth inthe written description and any included claims are approximations thatcan vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained bya particular embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parametersshould be construed in light of the number of reported significantdigits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstandingthat the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scopeof some embodiments of the application are approximations, the numericalvalues set forth in the specific examples are usually reported asprecisely as practicable.

In some embodiments, the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similarreferences used in the context of describing a particular embodiment ofthe application (especially in the context of certain claims) areconstrued to cover both the singular and the plural. The recitation ofranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthandmethod of referring individually to each separate value falling withinthe range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value isincorporated into the specification as if it were individually recitedherein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitableorder unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearlycontradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplarylanguage (for example, “such as”) provided with respect to certainembodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate theapplication and does not pose a limitation on the scope of theapplication otherwise claimed. No language in the specification shouldbe construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to thepractice of the application.

Variations on preferred embodiments will become apparent to those ofordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. It iscontemplated that skilled artisans can employ such variations asappropriate, and the application can be practiced otherwise thanspecifically described herein. Accordingly, many embodiments of thisapplication include all modifications and equivalents of the subjectmatter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicablelaw. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in allpossible variations thereof is encompassed by the application unlessotherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

All patents, patent applications, publications of patent applications,and other material, such as articles, books, specifications,publications, documents, things, and/or the like, referenced herein arehereby incorporated herein by this reference in their entirety for allpurposes, excepting any prosecution file history associated with same,any of same that is inconsistent with or in conflict with the presentdocument, or any of same that can have a limiting effect as to thebroadest scope of the claims now or later associated with the presentdocument. By way of example, should there be any inconsistency orconflict between the description, definition, and/or the use of a termassociated with any of the incorporated material and that associatedwith the present document, the description, definition, and/or the useof the term in the present document shall prevail.

In closing, it is to be understood that the embodiments of theapplication disclosed herein are illustrative of the principles of theembodiments of the application. Other modifications that can be employedcan be within the scope of the application. Thus, by way of example, butnot of limitation, alternative configurations of the embodiments of theapplication can be utilized in accordance with the teachings herein.Accordingly, embodiments of the present application are not limited tothat precisely as shown and described.

What is claimed is: 1.-5. (canceled)
 6. A cash-management system adaptedfor handling of multiple items of at least one currency type, thecurrency of each type having a plurality of predetermined valuedenominations, the currency of each type further comprising a uniqueidentifier, wherein said unique identifier is unique to each item ofcurrency within a currency type, such that each item of currency of agiven type is distinguishable from every other item of said type; thesystem comprising a user-interface stage, the user-interface stagecomprising an intake portal adapted to receive currency inputs from auser, wherein the intake portal comprises a scanner capable of capturingitem data from an item of intake currency; wherein the item datacomprises the item's unique identifier and the item's valuedenomination; the system further comprising a processor adapted toreceive, process, and transmit said item data to a system record,wherein the system record comprises a system inventory of all currencyitems present in the system; the system further comprising a sorteradapted to sort each item of input currency into one of a plurality ofprimary currency stores, wherein each primary currency store correspondsto the value denomination, such that after handling by the sorter eachitem of input currency is placed in a selected primary currency storeaccording to the value denomination of said item of input currency,further comprising a dynamic currency storage stage in physicalcommunication with the user-interface stage, wherein the physicalcommunication between the stages comprises a dynamic packaginginterstage; wherein the dynamic packaging interstage is adapted toselect a predetermined number of currency items of like valuedenomination from a primary currency store and package the predeterminednumber of items in a dynamic storage package (DSP), each DSP having anassigned dynamic storage package identifier (DSP Identifier) unique tosaid DSP, and each DSP having a predetermined total currency value basedupon the predetermined number and the value denomination of the DSP, andwherein the dynamic interstage is further adapted to deposit each DSP,after packaging, into the dynamic currency storage stage; and wherein inconnection with packaging and deposit of a DSP, the DSP Identifier iscommunicated to the system record, and wherein the DSP Identifiercorresponds to a unique DSP sub-inventory of currency items within thesystem inventory, wherein the DSP sub-inventory is a subset of thesystem inventory.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the dynamicpackaging interstage also comprises retrieval capability to retrieve aDSP and depackage said DSP and deliver currency from said depackaged DSPback to a primary currency store, or deliver the entire DSP to a uservia a DSP-output in the user interface stage.
 8. The system of claim 6,wherein upon depackaging, the DSP identifier is removed from the systemrecord and the unique identifiers are no longer associated with a DSPthrough a DSP identifier.
 9. The system of claim 7, wherein the DSPidentifier is recorded as exiting the system and all associated uniqueidentifiers are removed from the system inventory.
 10. The system ofclaim 6, further comprising a payout ledger of DSPs or individualcurrency items outputted from the user interface stage.
 11. The systemof claim 6, wherein the dynamic currency storage stage further comprisesa banking deposit function, wherein multiple DSPs are withdrawn directlyfrom a portal in the dynamic currency storage stage in preparation for abank deposit or other use of the currency within the DSPs.
 12. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein DSP Identifiers and sub-inventories arecommunicated to the bank and are recorded in the system record as havingbeen withdrawn from the system inventory for bank deposit.
 13. Thesystem of claim 6, further comprising a static packaging interstage,wherein, said static packaging interstage is adapted to receive multipleDSPs and package them into a secure container as a static storagepackage (SSP) for containing currency.
 14. The system of claim 13,wherein the SSP is adapted to be one or more of tamperproof, fireproof,waterproof, EMP-proof, and location-trackable.
 15. The system of claim13, wherein the SSP comprises a unique static storage package identifier(SSPID).
 16. The system of claim 13, wherein the SSP contains a totalamount of currency equaling a predetermined value.
 17. The system ofclaim 13, wherein the SSP comprises an unlock code required for openingthe SSP.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the unlock code isexecutable from a remote location.
 19. The system of claim 17, whereinthe unlock code functions in an unlocking device adapted to unlock theSSP.
 20. The system of claim 19 wherein the unlock code functions tounlock the SSP only when it is in physical contact with the unlockingdevice.
 21. The system of claim 13, further comprising a static storagestage for secure storage of multiple SSPs.
 22. The system of claim 21,wherein the static storage is adapted for input and output of SSPs viaat least one portal.
 23. The system of claim 22, wherein the at leastone portal requires one or more of an access code and a physical key foractivation.
 24. The system of claim 21, wherein the static storage isadapted to read and report all SSPIDs of SSPs contained therein.
 25. Thesystem of claim 21, comprising an sub-inventory of all items containedwithin the static storage.
 26. The system of claim 13, wherein thestatic packaging interstage is integral with the dynamic currencystorage stage or with the static storage stage.
 27. The system of claim13, further comprising a centralized currency storage stage (CCSS),adapted to receive SSPs from multiple instances of the system for securestorage of said SSPs, wherein each instance of the system is associatedwith a unique user of the system and/or a unique account within theCCSS, wherein the CCSS is adapted to read and record the SSPID of eachSSP associated with any instance of the system and/or with any accountwithin the CCSS.
 28. The system of claim 27, wherein the CCSS maintainsa sub-inventory of the currency contained in each account.
 29. Thesystem of claim 27, wherein the CCSS is further adapted to permittransactions between or among users of the system.
 30. The system ofclaim 29, wherein each transaction comprises a change in an ownershiprecord associated with at least one SSP and/or at least one DSP within agiven SSP.
 31. The system of claim 30, wherein the transactions areencrypted and remotely executable.
 32. The system of claim 6 whereininformation in the system is recorded in a blockchain. 33-41. (canceled)